Description
Creamy rotel pasta with ground beef delivers a southwestern spin on classic comfort food, blending zesty tomatoes and spicy peppers with rich, hearty ground beef. Cheese-coated noodles promise a quick, satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound (454 grams) penne pasta
- 1 pound (454 grams) lean ground beef
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) beef broth
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) shredded cheddar cheese
Meat and Vegetable Ingredients:
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (10 ounce/283 grams) can Rotel diced tomatoes with green chilies, undrained
Seasoning and Creamy Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) heavy cream
- 4 ounces (113 grams) cream cheese, cubed and softened
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- Fresh chopped cilantro or parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare a generously salted pot of water and cook penne pasta until perfectly tender, following package guidelines. Drain thoroughly and reserve.
- Select a spacious skillet and warm olive oil over medium-high temperature. Introduce ground beef and diced onions, methodically breaking meat into crumbles while sautéing until beef achieves a rich brown color and onions turn translucent, approximately 5-7 minutes.
- Sprinkle minced garlic into the skillet, allowing aromatics to release their fragrance for roughly 60 seconds.
- Pour in Rotel tomatoes with their liquid, beef broth, heavy cream, cream cheese, Worcestershire sauce, and a blend of spices including chili powder, smoked paprika, garlic salt, cumin, and black pepper. Gently simmer the mixture, stirring occasionally until cream cheese dissolves and sauce thickens slightly.
- Lower the heat and gradually incorporate shredded cheddar cheese, stirring until completely melted and creating a velvety smooth consistency.
- Introduce the reserved pasta into the skillet, carefully tossing to ensure each pasta piece is luxuriously coated with the zesty Rotel sauce.
- Transfer to serving plates, optionally garnishing with fresh chopped cilantro or parsley for an extra burst of color and flavor. Serve immediately while piping hot.
Notes
- Select pasta with ridges or curves to help sauce cling better and enhance overall flavor absorption.
- Consider using lean ground beef to reduce excess fat without compromising dish’s richness.
- For gluten-sensitive individuals, swap regular pasta with chickpea or quinoa pasta for added protein and dietary flexibility.
- Experiment with alternative protein sources like ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for diverse dietary preferences while maintaining similar taste profile.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 60 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg